The Toronto Tempo emerged victorious over the New York Liberty with a 93-91 final score on Sunday in Montreal, but the narrow margin was overshadowed by an unusual incident that resulted in an ejection during a contentious fourth quarter.
New York Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was ejected from the game after tossing a shoe that struck Toronto Tempo player Marina Mabrey in the back. The incident occurred during what proved to be an eventful final period of play, adding controversy to an already tightly contested matchup between the two teams.
The ejection marked a significant turning point in the game, as the Liberty were forced to navigate the remainder of the fourth quarter without one of their key players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, New York managed to keep the contest competitive, ultimately falling short by just two points in the hard-fought battle.
The Tempo capitalized on the opportunity to secure the victory on their home court in Montreal, demonstrating resilience in a game that tested both teams' composure and ability to execute under pressure. The win adds to Toronto's season record while the Liberty must regroup following the narrow defeat and the loss of Laney-Hamilton to ejection.
The unusual nature of the ejection—involving a thrown shoe rather than a more typical technical foul scenario—is likely to draw attention from league officials as they review the incident. Such conduct violations carry potential disciplinary consequences beyond the immediate ejection, though any additional penalties have not yet been announced.
